Helicopter flight over Cape Town

We took it easy on Saturday, and suddenly you notice little things that remind you that you're not at home, even though it feels very European here. Helena had just enough water for her morning routine, and then it was gone. The homeowner is still waiting for communication from the municipality about the cause and when we can expect to have running water again.

After breakfast, we discussed what we wanted to do today. Peter wanted to drive the Chapman's Peak Drive again, and Helena really wanted to take a helicopter flight (considering she suffers from fear of flying). After a short discussion, Peter tried to reach a helicopter tour provider on the phone, and oh wonder, they actually had availability and a free helicopter.

Just before 10 o'clock, an Uber took us to the helicopter base at VA Waterfront, and we sorted out the business with the tour provider. We were weighed, received our boarding passes, etc. Since we were a little early, we were chauffeured back to the pedestrian zone of VA Waterfront in a golf cart. We agreed with the driver that he would pick us up again at the same location at around 11:15.

We explored the waterfront once again, with the food market, the crafts market in the Watershed, and enjoyed the time in beautiful weather.

On time, we were picked up at the meeting point and driven to the helicopter base. After a short safety video, we deposited our hand luggage in lockers and waited on the terrace. A couple who had done the safety briefing with us went on a short city flight (15 minutes) before us. When the helicopter returned, it was our turn. Helena took a seat in the front next to the pilot, and I had the whole back seat to myself.

We took off over the harbor, then turned south. To our left, we had the soccer stadium of Green Point, then flew past the swimming pool of Sea Point, along the coast to Camps Bay. We passed Hout Bay and saw Chapman's Peak Drive from above, then at Noordhoek we also saw Cape Point Vineyard (where we enjoyed a picnic and the view of the sea with the Studers on Thursday). Passing Kommetje and the last neighborhoods of Cape Town (Misty Cliffs and Scarborough), we could already see Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope with its two lighthouses. The wind picked up, but our pilot had the helicopter under control and steered us safely around the Cape. While the coastline towards the Atlantic Ocean is rather flat, small hills and cliffs rise on the side facing the Indian Ocean.

After flying over False Bay, we returned to inhabited areas. We saw the entrance to Cape Point Nature Reserve, where we had to wait until we were allowed in on Thursday. Along the coast, over Boulder Beach (penguins), Simon's Town (the SA Navy's harbor), up to St. James (colored bathing huts), we flew in the direction of Muizenberg (Kneab, Egg's Benedict). From there, we flew over the flat land on the backside of Table Mountain towards Cape Town. On the left, we saw the first vineyards, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, and the University of Cape Town. After a short turn over the harbor, our pilot prepared for a safe landing on the heliport, and we were back on solid ground. What a flight, a completely different perspective on many things we did on the ground throughout the week. Simply fantastic and impressive.

After so many impressions, we needed some sustenance and went to a nice restaurant at the waterfront to indulge in our experiences.

In the evening, we took an Uber towards Durbanville, where De Grendel Wine Estate awaited us for dinner. The view of the sunset and the culinary offerings are unbeatable, not comparable to Waterkloof but also top class.